More coolness from recent weeks…
Out of Print tees: Now capturing even more of your favorite characters.
Serious bookworms out there are probably already familiar with the cool, literary-inspired gear from Out of Print. Maybe your kid proudly sports the Madeline cover art on her Out of Print tee, or your baby's rocking a Very Hungry Caterpillar bodysuit. But if the...
3 DIY dreamcatchers for happy crafting and sweet dreams
As a child, I long believed that dreamcatchers capture your nightmares in their web to keep sleep sweet and worry-free. As an adult, they still have a nostalgic pull on me. Plus, they're really gorgeous. I recently found some truly fantastic DIY dreamcatcher...
She’s the First: A charity by girls, for girls, and a total inspiration to us all.
Like many of the world's greatest ideas, She's the First began with a cupcake bake sale (okay, maybe not many great ideas begin with a bake sale, but I say it's never a bad place to start) and from there it's grown to become an organization doing exceptional,...
The very best beach umbrellas and tents for families, after a ton of research
You cannot even believe how much time I spent last summer tracking down the best beach umbrella. I finally went with my parents' strongly recommended pick, which was a surprise one to me. (And you have no idea how strongly recommended it was, unless you a) know my...
Here’s how you can follow Cool Mom Picks, Cool Mom Tech, Cool Mom Eats. We promise we’ll make it worth your while.
Whichever social media site is your guilty pleasure du jour, we’re there, making sure you don’t miss our favorite posts on parenting, fashion, apps, recipes, deals and discounts, and random awesomeness from around the web. Plus our favorite part: we love hearing from...
Lisa Frank adult coloring books! Because who can’t use more rainbows?
When I was a kid, one of the most exciting things about going back to school was getting to pick out a new Lisa Frank notebook. What would it be this year? A unicorn with wings and a flowing, rainbow mane? A dolphin family swimming in an exotic cove while a neon pink...
The handiest travel bag for parents? Found it.
I'm not even sure when I got the Baggu tote pack, but over the years (yes, it's been that long), it has been a huge travel lifesaver for me, time and time again. And even better, it's currently on super sale. This bag is an upgraded drawstring backpack, carrying just...
Alpine Pluggies make flying with kids a whole lot less painful
I was cruising the eye and ear care aisle at CVS last week on vacation, waiting for my daughter's ear infection prescription to be filled (womp, womp) and trying to find something that might help her ears for the plane ride home. On a whim, I grabbed a few packs of...
C.O.P.S: A great organization to help support fallen police officers and their families
We are running out of words for the unbelievably tragic week America has had, with the latest loss of American lives being the devastating sniper attack on Dallas law enforcement officials last night, after an otherwise peaceful protest. Our hearts go out to the...
16 essential skills kids learn from LEGO, and fantastic resources to help get them going
Of all the toys that have passed through the hands of my three kids over the past dozen or so years, there is no question that LEGO bricks have been the most enduring and versatile. From their first little plastic bucket of mixed bricks, to those 1000+ piece...
The most adorable cardboard playhouses for animal-loving kids.
If I had a dime for every time I walked into what was once a clean den or bedroom to discover it's been colonized by tiny pillow forts and sheet palaces, well, then I could buy one of these awesome, animal-shaped HULKI playhouses instead. After a hugely successful...
18 fun, free printable summer coloring pages for kids. Good ones!
Now that we're deep in the heart of summer, I find my kids like cooling down in the afternoons with some crafting time, and free printable coloring pages for kids often do the trick. Whether you're passing time, celebrating a summer birthday, going screen-free on a...
The 9 worst children’s TV shows that made my life a living hell: 2002–2009 Edition
We're happy to welcome guest columnist, Wendi Aarons. She's funny. When I was pregnant with my first son, way back in 2001, I had no intention of ever letting him watch television. Expose my precious baby’s developing brain to the mindless crap that spewed from the...
Here’s how you can follow Cool Mom Picks, Cool Mom Tech, Cool Mom Eats. We promise we’ll make it worth your while.
Whichever social media site is your guilty pleasure du jour, we’re there, making sure you don’t miss our favorite posts on parenting, fashion, apps, recipes, deals and discounts, and random awesomeness from around the web. Plus our favorite part: we love hearing from...
26 fun 4th of July ideas to make the day a fantastic one.
Happy 4th of July everyone! Oh America, you look pretty great for 240. Here's our advice for making the most out of the holiday: (Top image: popsicle stick American Flag craft via A Pumpkin and a Princess) 1. Be safe out there. 2. Fire up the grill. 3. Make the best...
7 fantastic children’s books to pick up before they hit theaters this year.
My kids love to read. But they also love to go to the movies. Luckily, that makes our summer reading easy this year, since I'm going to encourage them to pick up some of the great children's books that are being adapted into movies this summer and fall. From classics...
6 of our favorite stylish, comfortable wedge sandals you can wear even if you’re chasing kids around
I'm so happy that wedge sandals are back in style! Because the best part of summer fashion is that it's all about being casual, breezy and relaxed, right? So, on the rare occasion when we leave the pool and I need to dress up a little more than my go-to flip-flops, I...
11 truly wonderful 4th of July crafts and activities for kids (and hey, maybe you too)
Since I've had kids, the 4th of July has become one of my favorite holidays. I like to keep it really simple with 4th of July crafts, lots of great summer food and treats to eat, maybe letting the kids run around while the grownups hang out at the pool or in the...
Cute organic baby bedding — and experts who will help you find a favorite — from Monica and Andy
Whether or not you remember it, there was a time that the only crib bedding options for new parents were matchy-matchy bed-in-a-bag sets or expensive bespoke bedding. So we're really thankful that now there are so many stylish options for our babies' nurseries. And...
Controversy over little girls and bikinis, and the new summer camp debate | Spawned episodes 44 + 45
If you've already binge-watched the entirety of OITNB and you're looking for a little entertainment, we've got you covered with two episodes of Spawned! And yes, that's kind of a pun. On the recent episode of Spawned with Kristen + Liz, we're discussing our post about...
Hot fashion trend: Fringe bikini tops hide your not-so-favorite trouble spots
Confession: I don't love my stomach. And while I really want to feel super confident sporting a bikini, I just never have been able to get there. That was until I discovered the fringe trend, which is a very cool way to still wear a bikini but keep my not-so favorite,...